Analog Sources: Garrard 301 turntable; EMT 997 tonearm; EMT OFD 15 & TSD 15, Shindo Laboratory SPU pickup heads.
Digital Sources: Halide Designs DAC HD USB D/A converter; Apple iMac G5 computer running Audirvana Plus 1.5.12; Sony SCD-777ES SACD/CD player.
Preamplification: Hommage T2 step-up transformer, Shindo Laboratory Masseto preamplifier.
Power Amplifiers: Shindo Laboratory Corton-Charlemagne (monoblocks).
Loudspeakers: Altec Valencia, Auditorium 23 Hommage Cinema, DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/96.
Cables: USB: Wireworld…
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Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the Sony SS-NA5ES's frequency response in the farfield, and an Earthworks QTC-40 for the nearfield. My estimate of the Sony's voltage sensitivity was 86.7dB(B)/2.83V/m, which is very slightly higher than the specified 86dB. The SS-NA5ES's electrical impedance is specified as 4 ohms, but, as can be seen in fig.1 (solid trace), the impedance remains above 4 ohms at all audio frequencies other than the lower midrange, where it reaches a minimum value of 3.4 ohms at 220Hz. However, the…
Two of the great jazz pianists on the scene have just released two of their greatest trio albums: Fred Hersch, Sunday Night at the Vanguard (Palmetto); and Brad Mehldau, Blues and Ballads (Nonesuch).
Both musicians come out of a traditional, though modern, jazz vibe. Unlike some of their peers, such as Jason Moran and Vijay Iyer, who seek to redefine the piano trio in myriad ways, Hersch and Mehldau explore new pathways in song-forms, as the titles of these albums suggest—Mehldau underlining the core ingredients of jazz standards, Hersch nodding to Bill Evans' classic 1961 Sunday at the…
Simaudio saw disc-based digital audio in its rear-view mirror at least as far back as 2011, when it introduced the Moon Evolution 650D and 750D—two iterations of what it called a "digital-to-analog converter CD transport." These were actually multiple-input CD players, but Simaudio was evidently so eager to distance itself from the spinning disc that it went with a product category that, in spite of its cumbersome, run-on name, drew a clean line between the disc-reading and signal-processing functions—while bestowing upon the former second-class citizenship.
With the new Moon Evolution…
I downloaded the app and read the manual, but still had no idea how to integrate my hard drives into the network. Another call to Goodfield produced the answer, which was provided (sort of) in the list of MiND streaming capabilities. But really, a product like the 780D needs a manual that holds your hand, not a list of bulleted "capabilities"! I don't care if the dealer does the setup. Better that the customer learns how it all works, and how best to integrate sources into the MiND network. Don't you think?
Using the MiND app with an iPad
Again, I won't try to describe something…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Streaming D/A converter. Digital inputs: AES/EBU (XLR), S/PDIF (2 RCA, 1 BNC), S/PDIF (2 TosLink), Bluetooth with Qualcomm aptX audio support and Ethernet RJ45, USB Type B (high-resolution audio). Analog outputs: 1 pair balanced (XLR), 1 pair single-ended (RCA). Sample rates supported: PCM to 32-bit/44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.2, 192, 384kHz; DSD (via USB only) to 2.8224, 5.6448, 11.2896MHz. Frequency response: 2Hz–100kHz, +0/–0.3dB (full range). THD at 1kHz, 0dBFS (A-weighted): <0.0001%. Intermodulation distortion: <0.0001%. Dynamic range: 124dB…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn turntable & Castellon stand; Kuzma 4Point, Swedish Analog Technologies tonearms; Lyra Atlas & Atlas SL & Etna SL, Ortofon Anna & A95, Miyajima Labs Zero (mono) & Madake cartridges.
Digital Sources: Simaudio Moon Evolution 650D CD player & Moon Evolution 820S power supply; Lynx Hilo A/D-D/A converter; Meridian Sooloos Digital Media System; JRiver Media Center, Pure Vinyl, Vinyl Studio.
Preamplification: Ypsilon MC-10L & MC-16L step-up transformers; Tru-Life Audio, Ypsilon VPS-…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I measured the Simaudio Moon Evolution 780D with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 "As We See It"). Source materials were WAV and AIFF test-tone files, played with Pure Music 3.0 on my MacBook Pro running on battery power. Apple's USB Prober utility identified the processor as the "MOON USB DSD HD AUDIO" from "SIMAUDIO LTD," and confirmed that the 780D's USB input operated in the optimal isochronous asynchronous mode. The AudioMIDI app indicated that the Simaudio DAC operated at all PCM sample rates from 32 to 384kHz, with a bit depth of up…
I am a big believer in supporting events promoted by specialty audio retailers. They reinforce the idea that audiophiles and manufacturers—even reviewers—are parts of a vibrant community that believes that listening to music with the highest possible quality is one of the more important things in life. The "Music Matters" evenings arranged by Audio Advice in North Carolina, Definitive Audio in Seattle, and Listen Up in Colorado exemplify that idea, and it was in April 2015, at Listen Up's Denver store, that I used a pair of PSB's new Imagine T3 tower speakers to play the audience some of my…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Three-way, five-driver, reflex-loaded, floorstanding loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" (25mm) titanium-dome tweeter, 5.25" (133mm) compressed felt/fiberglass-cone midrange, three 7" (178mm) compressed felt/fiberglass-cone woofers. Crossover frequencies: 450Hz, 1.8kHz, with fourth-order Linkwitz-Riley filters. Frequency response (on-axis): 23Hz–20kHz, ±1.5dB; 24Hz–23kHz, ±3dB. Sensitivity: 89dB/2.83V/m. Impedance: 8 ohms nominal, 4 ohms minimum. Power handling: 20–300W.
Dimensions: 47.6" (1208mm) H by 11.5" (292mm) W by 15.04" (382mm) D. Internal…